Let's be honest: EQ has crap mechanics. Class balance is horrible and raiding isn't particular challenging. There are so many things that could be fixed that it would take me pages to write them all down. Some of the more egregious ones:
- Debuff/CC spells costing 1/5 the mana that they should
- Paladins and SKs being worthless raid tanks without discs (and having XP penalties on top of them)
- Itemization being so bad that AC caps became the primary means of class balance
- FD mechanics are completely moronic in pretty much every way. Fun for sure, in some ways, but just mind bogglingly silly when you think about them.
- Summoning mobs. Whoever thought up that needs to be slapped with a seabass
What made EQ awesome is and was a) the huge lore and size of the world and b) the deliberate crippling of solo classes (well, most of them).